We Dream of Hope

Day One

The night air was still and cold. The frost was just starting to settle around the area. The small campfires had been extinguished shortly before but the logs still whistled as the smoke danced climbing through the air. The only light left was in a large tent at the edge of the campsite. Inside the air steamed as little beads of internal heat flew through the air clinging to my face. As I reached a hand up to touch the spot where the life had fallen I couldn’t look away. Before me stood a picture of beauty. Her face was so petite and her hair glowed in the light of the lanterns, gold and silver threads cut from their source at the force of a blade through her slender back. The bump in her chest grew until the metal death could no longer be contained and more beads of her life flew forth. The c***k and tearing of her flesh took my breath away. My knees grew weak but my eyes couldn’t remove their gaze from my treasure. I had to reach out hoping to feel her warmth one last time before the frost overtook her.

As Nadia’s hand reached further out her fingertips brushed the top of her tent the fabric tickled and caused her eyes to twitch open. She lowered her hand and tucked it back beneath her fur blanket and rolled over a small slit in her canvased walls let in the morning light and she dug her face further into herself. “Not yet, please.” she groaned.

“Rise and shine Nadia!” the voice shadowed over her and she tossed even more. “If you don’t get out here, I’m going to come in there.”

Nadia raised herself quickly, “I’m up! I’m up!” She flung herself onto her knees and crawled outside the tent greeting a tall muscular woman head half-shaved. In this sea of pearls, she alone stood as the stable obsidian rock unbreakable in both spirit and body, “Gosh Ma’at.” Nadia shielded her eyes from the rude morning sun. 

“Hey Di, the eggs will be nearly gone if you don’t hurry yourself to breakfast.” She took a razor and continued to shave the rest of her head, “Don’t forget I need an extra set of clothes before tonight. I’ll be leaving early tomorrow.” 

Nadia had almost forgotten, Ma’at was set to go on a hunting trip before the season changed. It pained her to think that for the next few weeks she was going to be down her best friend and alarm clock. “Don’t worry, I’ll be sure you’re more than ready.” She winked and tossed two fingers twiddling them back and forth playfully. “Just save me an extra pelt.”

Somethings coming. 

Looking around quickly, Nadia tried to find the owner of the voice but with no luck, “Who said that?”

“Said what Di?” Ma’at finished her haircut and wiped her head off with a damp rag.

“You didn’t hear that?”

“No idea what you mean dear.” She shrugged and grabbed a sword sticking it in a sheath attached to her belt. “Anyway, don’t forget an extra set of clothes. You can just leave it in my tent. I’ll be out late today.”

“Sure thing.” Nadia felt a little alone, she clearly heard something, but why didn’t Ma’at hear it?

You’re not crazy. 

Of course, Nadia thought, now the voice was being blatant about her insanity. 

Go toward the center of the camp now and stay around people. 

She rolled her eyes and shook her head violently. Of course she was going to be around people, not because the voice told her to be, but because she had a job to do. 

The closer she got to the center of the campsite the more people appeared most of the crowd was older setting out for their daily chores. The youngest of the group were just a handful of youngsters between ten and twelve, no one really expected them to contribute so letting them sleep kept them out of everyone’s way. The beginning of the morning was just too vital to the rest of the day. Breakfast had to be made, hunters had to be fed, animals needed to be tended to. The children still learning what they were going to be good at just couldn’t hold their attention to one task and always seemed to bug the first person they saw. Luckily for Nadia they were young enough to not be orphans like most of the people Nadia’s age. Ma’at was basically considered an orphan, but to be honest no one knew where she came from.

When Nadia was five there was a powerful storm that rushed through and Ma’at just appeared the next day, completely confused, but freight never crossed her face. She was ready to pick a fight with the first person who rubbed her the wrong way. Nadia’s father, Barren took this as a moment for Nadia to have company so the two of them shared everything until they were too big to fit in one tent together. Ma’at took on the role of protective older sister must against Nadia’s wishes, who assumed the role of smother with motherly love. It wasn’t that Nadia couldn’t be unkind of Ma’at she just had such high hopes for her best friend. Ma’at knew her potential was being capped here, but never let Nadia believe she was the cause for staying. At any point Nadia knew Ma’at could take up eave, and never come back, she was just overly joyed at the time they had together. 

The breakfast area was swarmed by the headstrong young men grabbing all the protein their bowls could muster and Nadia being the nimble little elf she was slipped between the broad shoulders and muscular arms to swipe herself a small portion of scrambled eggs with two strips of bacon before ducking back out to the direction of her safety corner. Nadia’s job to her was just clothing, sure it was important, but no one thought about how important so few people ever came near her. Once in a while she might get some help with laundry, from someone injured during a hunt, but that was too rare of an event. 

She came upon the strung up clothes creating a makeshift maze wrapping into a cubicle where she had more privacy. In the center was a small table stocked with all her sewing needs and to the side was her upturned bucket ready for her to take her seat. It wasn’t much of a comfort, but still she was able to take a moment to enjoy her food. The eggs were a little bland for Nadia’s liking and the bacon was chewy to it was clearly the second batch that was made. People had already swarmed the breakfast area and the cooks couldn’t properly take their time, which unfortunately showed, it beat having a grumbling stomach throughout the morning. 

If you don’t like it make your own food. 

Excuse me? The voice was back, it knew her deepest thoughts, she never openly admitted to the dislike of the food, but this voice, it knew her. How rude of you. These people worked all morning to make me this food. The least I can do is appreciate it.

Sure, appreciate it. But do something other than sit in the center of your silly maze like a minotaur waiting for a sacrifice. 

A what? This voice knew something she didn’t which made the eggs fall like a rock in her stomach.

Minotaur, it’s a half-beast, bull and human. You’ve never heard of one have you?

I never knew the name no.

Oh…

That seemed to shut the voice up for the time being, but still, Nadia was beginning to think she needed to think about telling someone about this peculiar event. 

Oh, look your first sacrifice. 

Nadia perked up at the rustle in the clothes. She shoved the rest of her eggs into her mouth her cheeks bulging as she struggled to chew. 

“Nadia? I thought I’d find you here.” 

Her head flung down and she quickly swallowed what she could in one large gulp, “Hey Tomin.” taking another moment for her throat to recover left Nadia prone to conversation which unfortunately came from Tomin.

It wasn’t the Tomin was a bad person, he was just overly needy. He was one of those tall, awkward, handsome types, that Nadia accidentally bought into for a few short months which left him completely entranced in their future. 

“I was seeing if you wanted to come with me today, you know we could find some rabbits for a dinner tonight just the two of us?” it was generally sincere, which was the problem. 

“Listen Tomin,” again she had to pause, that breakfast just kept up a fight and Nadia was not prepared for the two-front battle. 

“No no, I get it, you’re undecided.” taking a few steps closer he took a squat on a raised section of earth, “it’s fine.”

Okay, do I need to get in on this? The voice was back, but this time Nadia was grateful. 

Oh please do. 

“How about I cook the dinner anyway and if you decide to come over we could share a nice night under the stars like before.” He winked and placed a ribbon on her table, “I know you like to tie your hair up, so how about you pick something cute to go with this?” he took a few steps back before turning away but stopping suddenly. “Do you hear that?”

It was a quiet rumbling but with a raspy breath behind it. Nadia thought it was in her head as usual, but if Tomin heard it too, maybe just this once Nadia wasn’t crazy. 

“Yeah, what is that?” She looked around and every hair on her body stood up at the sight between the trees. Yellow eyes stared back surrounded by massive fur belonging to a towering wolf easily half the height of Tomin who was not short by any imagination. Her hand struggled to find Tomin’s shirt as she gave a quick but short tug to signal him to turn around, “Tomin.” the breath escaping was soft so as to not disturb the giant creature, “Tomin what should we do?”

It was a swift movement that knocked Nadia to the ground as Tomin stepped in front of her “Stay behind me.” He wasn’t trying to be subtle as he drew his sword banging it against Nadia’s desk splintering the edge, “Get out of here!” he shouted trying harder to create a scene. 

Nadia flinched with every strike on her cherished solitude, but again the voice returned. Apparently this didn’t work. Nadia watched as the wolf rolled its massive eyes and turned unphased by Tomin’s display. Slowly it walked away hardly a trace left of the beast after a few more moments of banging Tomin was finally satisfied with his work. 

“There Nadia it’s gone. Should I go get your father tell him what’s happened?” His confidence grew as he showed off a large beaming smile resheathing his sword. 

It took her an uncomfortable amount of time to get herself to her feet before she finally responded, “Yes, please do.” Nadia loved the opportunity to have him leave, but could almost feel regret at the wolf being gone. This was just the thing she needed anyway, Tomin was going to tell her father how he saved her from this massive beast ready to destroy everything. She could almost hear the over-hyped tales Tomin was sure to share around the campfire tonight. 

As she surveyed the damage to her desk she looked at the ribbon Tomin had brought, it wasn’t the best of colors, the brown was nearly faded leaving a few streaks in the light tan, but it seemed like he tried to at least get her something. Still, the ribbon she used to tie her hair back was something sentimental to herself, she wasn’t going to change it to wear something cute. 

I guess I need to at least entertain him tonight with dinner. He did save me. 

HE saved YOU? 

Yes, if you hadn’t been paying attention, this massive wolf clearly sent by some kind of demon was about to kill us.

Until it clearly felt sorry for the silly display the boy was putting on and decided watching it further would only bring more embarrassment to himself. 

Whatever, you had to be there I guess. 

What was she doing? She knew the voice was right, the thing lost interest maybe it wouldn’t have attacked at all? Nadia knew a demon hadn’t sent it, but why did she feel she needed to repay Tomin? Who left her when the wolf could have easily returned? Now that she was thinking about it she was getting irritated. So she was going to go to dinner tonight, but only to tell Tomin to leave her alone, nothing else was going to transpire. Especially after his stupid actions left her desk in near shambles.